Cover for conduit outlet boxes



Nov. '23, 1937. D. 8. WINTER COVER FOR CONDUIT OUTLET BOXES Filed June 10, 1936 IN VENTOR:

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Nov. 23, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIQE Grouse-Hinds Company,

Syracuse, N. Y., a

corporation of New York Application June 10,

l 2 Claims.

This invention relates to covers for electrical conduit outlet boxes of the type set forth in Patent No. 1,767,226, issued June 24, 1930, and has for its object a particularly simple, light and strong construction of a cover and assembly of the wedging member or nut of the self contained fastening means for the cover, and which construction is particularly economical in manufacture.

and in the combinations and constructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawingin which like char- 5. acters designate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure liis a lengthwise, sectional view of a conduit outlet box and the removable cover embodying the invention.

Figure 2, is a bottom, plan view of the article shown in Figure 1, with the central portion of the outletbox in section.

Figure 3 is an exploded view of the cover fastening. means including a portion of the cover. 05 The conduit outletbox comprises a body l9 provided with internally threaded housings II to receive the ends of the conduit. The particular outlet box illustrated is comparatively shallow and is provided with an opening 12 in one side thereof to permit manipulation of the electrical wiring in the conduit system. The opening I2 is usually oblong, or elongated, and of comparative- 1y narrow width.

As here illustrated, the cover I3 is formed of comparatively heavy sheet material and is provided with a marginal flange M for resting on the edge of the wall of the box around the opening 12. The cover is slightly drawn to provide a central depression or recess i5 on its inner side within the marginal flange l4 and conforming to the same. V

The cover I3 is detachably secured to the open side of the box, and in the type disclosed the cover is provided with self contained fastening means which is operable from the outside of the cover to engage the end walls of the opening l2. This invention has to do particularly with the construction of this fastening means.

50 The fastening means comprises a nut l6 formed with a beveled end face H at one end and a projection !8 at the opposite end, the projection I8 being of less thickness than the body of the nut.

The body of the nut is formed with a threaded aperture to receive shanks of the screw l9 which The invention consists in the novel features 1936, Serial No. 84,493

extend through the cover from the outside thereof.

The cover I3 is provided, adjacent the marginal flange M, with an inwardly extending projection 20. This projection 20 is obround in general shape, and is provided with an elongated aperture 2! extending through the cover to receive the screws i9. The covers 13 are usually formed of sheet material, and in that instance the projection 20 is formed, or drawn, at the same time the aperture 2| is punched in the cover.

The structure of the fastening means further includes a channel shaped member designated generally 25, the bottom Wall 25 of which is provided with an elongated aperture Blto receive the projection 20 on the under side of the cover. The side walls 23 extend substantially parallel with the long axis of the aperture 27. The outer ends of the sides, 28 are provided with short extensions 29, the purpose of which will be hereinafter referred to, and the inner ends of the sides 28 are connected by a beveled wall 80. The end wall 30 slants downwardly and toward the apertures 21, 2|, and is complemental to the beveled end face I? on the nut It. It will be apparent that asthe screw I9 is threaded into the nut 16, and the nut moved axially on the screw toward the cover, the nut will be moved lengthwise of the channel member, because of the engagement of the beveled end face if of the nut with the beveled end wall 30 of the channel member.

The projection 21] serves to locate the channel member 25 and further serves as a convenient and economical means of securing the member to the cover. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, a projection 20 is arranged adjacent the flange M at each end of the cover l3. The projections 20, in this instance, are arranged with their major axis extending substantially radially relatively to the curved end portion of the cover [3. The projections 20 may be arranged along the side edges of the cover, in which instance the major axis of the projections will extend at right angles to the side portions of the flange l4. That is, the sides 28 of the channel member extend toward the marginal face of the cover. The channel members I! are secured to the under side of the cover by swaging the end or edge of the projection 20 over the bottom 26 about the aperture 21, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. Due to the fact that the projections 20 are obround, and the apertures 21 are formed complemental therewith, the channel members 25 are secured to the under side of the cover in a predetermined position, and are held from movement relative to the cover. Obviously, the bottom 26 f the channel may be provided with the projection, and the cover with a complemental aperture.

The location of the apertures 2| and projections 20, and the relative dimensions of the channel member 25 are such that the projections 29 on the sides of the channel member form abutments to locate the cover I3 centrally of the open ing I2 in the box, and the projection I8 on the outer end of the nut I'I engages the end wall of the opening I2 and the under side of a. ledge 32 in said end wall when the screw I9 is tightened.

When the cover is applied tothe box, the screws I9 are threaded outwardly, and the nuts I6 assume the position shown to the right in Figure 1. When the screws I9 are threaded into the nuts, and the nuts drawn toward the under side of the cover, they are moved outwardls toward the fiange l4 until the projections l8 engage the wall of the box beneath the ledge 32.

Heretofore, the cam member for effecting wedging action of the nut has been formed of various constructions generally employing a separate sheet metal plate attached to the under side of the cover by welding, or otherwise. Such construction resulted in an expensive cover because of the amount of material involved, and the amount of labor consumed in assembling the cover.

It will be apparent, from the above description, that I have provided a very simple and efficient construction for effecting a wedging action of the fastening nuts. As previously stated, the covers are usually formed of sheet metal, and when so formed, the projection 26 is formed simultaneously with the formation of the aperture 2i in the cover. The channel member 25 may be formed of suitable sheet metal in a single operation, and by the novel arrangement and construction set forth, the channel member 25 is readily secured to the cover in a predetermined position to effect most eificient operation without the necessity of any adjustment by the workman assembling the cover. Also, because of the channel formation, the nuts I! are maintained in a correct position at all times relative to the cover, and the channel member 25, while of simple and light construction, is exceptionally strong and durable, permitting the screws l9 to be tightened to the extent necessary to properly clamp a gasket between the flange I4 of the cover and the marginal edge of the box about the opening I2.

What I claim is:

1. The combination of a conduit outlet boX having an opening in one side, of a cover for the open side having a marginal bearing face overlying the edge wall around the opening, a channel member arranged on the under side of the cover adjacent said marginal face with the sides of the channel extending toward said marginal face, said channel and cover being provided with a complemental projection and aperture, with the projection extending through the aperture and being swedged over to secure the channel to the cover, a nut arranged in the channel member, a screw extending through the cover from the outside thereof and threading in the nut, the nut and channel member having coacting surfaces to efiect movement of the nut toward the marginal edge of the cover and into engagement with the side wall of the box when the screw is threaded into the nut.

' 2. The combination of a conduit outlet box having an opening in one side, of a cover for the open side having a marginal bearing face overlying the edge wall around the opening, said cover being formed with an inwardly extending tubular projection of elliptical formation, a channel member arranged on the under side of the cover adjacent said marginal face with the sides of the channel extending toward said marginal face, said channel member being formed with an aperture in the bottom wall thereof of form complemental to said projection, with the projection extending through said aperture and being swedged over to secure the channel member to the cover, a nut arranged in the channel member, a screw extending through said tubular projection from the outside of the cover and threading into said nut, said nut and channel member having coacting surfaces to efiect movement of the nut toward the marginal edge of the cover and into engagement with the side wall of the box when the screw is threaded into the nut.

DANIEL B. WINTER. 

